TLDR
- New Zealand has confirmed the full requirements for online casino license applications ahead of an auction on September 29, 2026.
- Winning an auction slot only gives a company the right to apply for a license, not the license itself.
- Bidders must submit five strategy documents, including a harm prevention plan and a compliance plan.
- The market will be capped at 15 licenses, and no operator can control more than three.
- Successful bidders must complete all application requirements by October 23, 2026.
New Zealand has confirmed the full requirements for companies seeking an online casino license. The rules were set out ahead of an auction scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Winning a slot at the auction does not mean a company gets a license right away. It gives the company the right to apply and go through an assessment process.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will oversee the process. Successful bidders must show they can run their business responsibly and follow the rules.
Five Documents Required From Bidders
Under the DIA’s rules, each successful bidder must submit five documents. These are a business plan, an advertising and marketing strategy, a consumer protection strategy, a harm prevention and minimisation strategy, and a compliance strategy.
Operators must also provide a document showing how their internal policies match the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. The document must also cover the rules linked to that law.
Online casino technology must be certified by independent testing labs. This covers the games and the random number generators (RNGs) that decide game outcomes.
Games and RNGs already tested to standards in the UK or the Canadian province of Ontario will not need new testing for the market’s first day. Any other existing games must go through full external testing.
New titles added after launch must also be fully tested. The rule is meant to make sure games offered to New Zealand players are fair.
Limits on Licenses and Ownership
The government will allow a maximum of 15 licenses in the market. Each brand will need its own separate license.
No single operator can control or hold major influence over more than three licenses. The limit is meant to stop too much ownership from ending up with one company.
Licenses will first last up to three years. Operators will then have a single option to renew for up to five years.
This setup lets regulators review how an operator performs before granting a longer approval. It also gives successful businesses a path to keep operating.
The timeline for applicants is short. Winners of the September 29 auction must complete all license application requirements by October 23, 2026.
That gives companies about three and a half weeks after the auction to prepare and submit their paperwork. Bidders with business plans and compliance policies already in place are in a better position to meet the deadline.
The DIA’s confirmation of the rules gives bidders a clear view of what is needed. Companies can now focus on meeting the standards for consumer protection, harm minimisation and compliance.
The auction is set to take place on Tuesday, September 29. Winning bidders will then have until October 23 to file their full license applications.
